This is the 12th chapter. I don't own the series of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
Boast Busters
The Apple family were happy that Apple Shine is accepting her new life in Equestria and her new family. Apple Shine was happy that she was officially welcomed by Applejack and her family. She was also spending so much time with her family and bonding with them.
After that, Apple Shine had stopped having terrible nightmares. She started sleeping more peacefully when she slept with Applejack. Applejack wanted to do something special for Apple Shine, so she and her family went on a trip to Appleloosa to see the other relatives, including Braeburn, which he's taking quite a liking to Apple Shine, after Applejack give her an explanation. Braeburn felt sorry for the Texan filly, but he was glad that she's accepting her new life. Apple Shine was so happy that she gets to meet her cousin. Apple Shine also got a souvenir from Braeburn: a leather vest and western chaps.
After spending a couple of days in Appleloosa, Applejack and the Apple family made it back to Ponyville. They all went back to Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack was happy to have given Apple Shine what she really needed: a new life and a loving family once more. She was happy to give the Texan filly what she needed.
And now at the Golden Oak Library, with another research project under their belts, Mario Star and Twilight Sparkle were busy working on their magical abilities in attempt to master some minor spells, with Comet Stardust by their side. Comet was also learning new spells, but he was already at Twilight's level. He was starting to learn things so fast, including levitation, transfiguration, summoning animal spirits, auric hands, summon auric weapons, teleportation, combat spells, and barriers. He was also utilizing those magic abilities with martial arts, and he was learning things fast and refreshing memories of his old fathers' teachings.
Though, they only focused on minor spells because each spell has more than one effects. They both understand the importance of mastering simple tricks despite already mastering the advanced spells. Learning as many minor spells as possible helps build a unicorn's capability to learn and master the more difficult spell. Mario, Comet, and Twilight took turns learning these variety of tricks, as Spike served as their cheerleader.
"Wow!" Spike said with awe. "You three have been learning a lot of new spells."
"Indeed." Twilight agrees. "Although Comet might be a little colt, but he's still learning. Now, we've done 24 spells."
"Also, Comet was able to learn new martial arts moves quickly and practiced with me and Wild Heart." Mario adds. "Plus, he kept practicing on his own while keeping on his daily exercise."
Spike was now listing down all of the spells the three have been doing on their magic.
"Alright. Time for one more spell." Spike said, but Comet was suddenly panting heavily.
Twilight smiled motherly, and then put a hoof on Comet's back.
"Why don't you go and rest for a bit?" Twilight suggests. "I think you've done enough magic."
Comet confirms with a nod as he nuzzled his mother's chest and walking over to the side to watch them.
"Don't worry Comet, you'll get to learn more." Mario assures him with a smile.
"Alright, Twilight, time for a growth spell." Spike said as he began to cheer. "Come on Twilight. You can do it!"
"Okay, here goes." Twilight said.
She proceeds to concentrate as her horn began to light up. A glowing aura surrounded in front of Spike's face. A couple of seconds later, a black mustache appears upon his face.
"Ha ha! Ya did it!" Spike said excitedly. "Growing magic, that's number 25. 25 different types of tricks and counting."
"Take a bow, Twilight!" Mario adds. "You're amazing!"
Twilight blushed a bit from receiving all this attention.
"And I think this is the best trick so far." Spike replied, admiring his new mustache in the mirror as he strokes tenderly. "Hello, Rarity. What's that? Aw, it's nothin', just my awesome mustache."
Spike laughed to himself, causing Comet to roll his eyes with annoyance.
"Oh brother." Comet muttered.
"Sorry, Romeo. As attractive and enticing as you look, it's just for practice and it's gotta go." Twilight said with a smile, lights up her horn to undo the growing spell.
"Wait!" Spike protests, but it's too late as the mustache vanished from his face. "Aw, rats!"
Twilight giggled to herself.
"Wait a minute!" Comet said. "You said 'Romeo'? As in Romeo and Juliet? That was an old romance and tragedy novel book back in my world!"
"Really?" Twilight asked, earned a nod from the colt. "Huh. Must be some weird coincidence. Perhaps there are some other links from your world to ours. Looks like we'll have to tell the princesses about this. Alright, Mario. Now how's your martial arts moves?"
Mario smirked at her before he got in the middle of the room and did a performance of the new moves he learned. This impressed Twilight and amazed Comet a lot which Mario was amazing.
After he was done, Mario got on all fours before he turned to Twilight.
"So, what do you think?" Mario asked with a smile.
"Very impressive." Twilight answered back with a smile. "Now, how about we go get some sunshine?"
Comet nodded, got up and then the four of them headed on outside.
My Little Pony, My Little Pony
Ahhhh
My Little Pony
I use to wonder what friendship could be
My Little Pony
Until you all share this magic with me
Big adventure,
Tons of fun,
A beautiful heart,
Faithful and strong,
Sharing kindness
It's an easy feat
And magic makes it all complete
You all have my little ponies
Do you know all you're my best friends?
Later that day, Mario, Twilight, Comet, and Spike were enjoying a nice walk through Ponyville. Spike still couldn't settle down over Twilight's and Mario's achievements.
"25, Twilight." Spike said. "25 different kinds of tricks and counting as well as Mario's Toso Kune Do moves in perfection. I thought unicorns were only supposed to have a little magic that matches their special talents!"
"True." Twilight points out. "For ponies whose talents are for things like cooking or singing or math. But what if unicorns special talent is magic?"
"Or unicorns special talents of either combat spells or natural abilities?" Mario adds.
"Like you two, and you both know a ton of magic." Spike said.
"Oh Spike, stop. I don't know everything." Mario replied.
"I'm sure there are lots of ponies right here in Ponyville that know just as much as us." Twilight adds.
"Are you kiddin'? Spike retorted. "I don't think there's another unicorn in all of Equestria with your kind of ability, guys."
"What about me?" Comet asks.
"Like your mother, you're gifted with magic." Mario said to the colt. "Plus, you learned well in two fighting styles of Toso Kune Do and Okichitaw."
"But, you've still got a lot to learn, sweetie." Twilight replied to her son.
"But Mom, Mario, do you think my special talent might be one of yours too? If I ever had a cutie mark?" Comet asks, looking at his flank. "I can't be a unicorn without a special talent, you know."
Twilight giggled while Mario chuckled and then, she kissed Comet on the forehead.
"Don't worry, sweetheart. I promise you'll find your special talent soon enough." Twilight assures her son.
Comet smiled and hugged his mother on the leg and nuzzled her chest fur. Mario smiled, seeing his godson is getting loved by his mother. Mario has been a father-figure to Comet ever since Twilight gave birth to him and having closure with his old family, he's been spending much time with Mario, mostly practicing martial arts and learning combat spells with him. However, Mario also gives Comet some wisdom and hoping he'll learn his teachings.
"Gangway! Comin' through!" The voice said as the two unicorns ran past them before they rammed into Spike as they sprinted by.
The lanky pony has a brilliant amber fur coat with moderate turquoise mane and tail, and black eyes. His cutie mark was a pink frowning snail.
The short pony has a grayish opal fur coat with moderate orange mane and tail, and black eyes. His cutie mark was a white and light grey open scissors.
"Augh! Snips, Snails!" Spike shouted their names, forced into a hitch bumpy ride on Snip's head. "What's goin' on?"
"Wha, you haven't heard?" Snails replied as he turned his head and saw Spike when he and Snips stopped, causing Spike to fly off distance and crashed. "There's a new unicorn in town!"
"A new unicorn?" Mario repeats, caught up.
"Yeah! They say that she's got more magical powers than any other unicorn ever!" Snips adds.
Twilight Sparkle and Comet Stardust had just caught up with Mario Star, but when he turned to them he knew they heard just as much as he did.
"Really?" The unicorns asked in unison.
Needless to say, they were both a bit insecure about hearing that, but Comet was curious.
"Aw, no way, that honor goes to Twilight and Mario here." Spike points out.
"And Mom, Mario, and I have gifted abilities." Comet adds.
The two young colts just looked at them, as Mario and Twilight had a slight blush of embarrassment upon their faces from the praise.
"Where is this unicorn?" Twilight asked curiously.
"Ho, she's in the town square!" Snails responds. "Come on!"
"Yeah!" Snips adds. "Come on! Whooo!"
Twilight, Mario, Comet, and Spike exchanged some curious looks before following them. Soon all the other ponies gathered around a large stage that had been set up just outside of town hall. A large curtain completely surrounded part of it.
"Come one, come all!" The mare's voice shouted. "Come and witness the amazing magic of the Great and Powerful Trixie!"
The platform appeared before them as the curtains revealed a brilliant azure unicorn mare with pale cornflower blue mane and tail with very pale cerulean stripes, and dark grayish violet eyes. Her cutie mark was a light blue magic wand and crescent moon. She wore a violet cape with pale cerulean and light gray stars and dots and a matching hat.
"Ooh!" The numerous ponies gasped in awe.
Spike pushed a few ponies out of the way, this way he, Twilight, Mario, and Comet could get a front row view of Trixie. All their other friends were already there, watching the spectacle before their eyes. But one look at the traveling magician and Mario released a loud groan, knew who she was.
"Oh great!" Mario muttered. "Not her again!"
"You know her?" Twilight asked.
"I met Trixie years ago. She's one of my biggest bullies back in magic school." Mario answered with annoyance. "That girl would stop at nothing to get under my skin, but she's always a slow learner when I showed her that I'm not meant to be messed with. Not to mention she tried to make me look stupid...in public."
"I see, wait..." Twilight paused. "If she used to go to the same magic school as us, how come I've never heard of her."
"Maybe it's because she pestered me when you weren't around." Mario retorted. "She did try to speak to you once or twice, but you were so absorbed with your studies it didn't surprise me you never knew she tried talking to you."
Twilight smiled sheepishly, which she did just that. During their talk, Trixie continued with her show now that she had every pony's attention.
"Watch in awe as the Great and Powerful Trixie performs the most spectacular feats of magic ever witness by pony eyes!"
As if her bragging wasn't enough, Trixie conjured a large collection of fireworks to ignite a complete fanfare.
"My, my, my!" Rarity remarked with a glare, rolled her eyes and raise her eyebrow. "What boasting!"
"Come on." Spike said with annoyance. "Nopony's as magical as Twi-Twi-Twi-"
It was then he noticed that Rarity was literally standing inches beside him.
"Oh!" Spike replied, clearing his throat. "Hey Rarity, I...uh...mustache!"
Spike dashed away from Rarity, who just looked rather clueless.
"There's nothing wrong with being talented, is there?" Twilight asked, worried.
"Nothin' at all." Applejack assured, but annoyed the way she watched Trixie showing off. "'cep'n when someone goes around showin' it off like a school filly with fancy new ribbons."
"Oh, come on." Comet said. "I've seen a lot of stuff like this before back in my world."
"Well, yer not the only one." Apple Shine said. "Ah've seen a lot of stuff like this, too."
"You have? How?" Twilight asked which it also got Mario, Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash's attention.
"On stage like this, but also on TV." Comet told them.
"T...V?" Rarity asked in confusion. "Whatever are you talking about, darling?"
"Oh, right." Comet said. "The closest thing you have to a TV, or television for short, is a movie projector. Well, anyway, it's this box-shaped type of thing that digitally shows a bunch of shows and plays made up by many humans and has many other multiple choices of fun entertainment, like sports, cooking, cartoons, sitcoms, news, and many more."
"Mah old family and Ah usually watch mostly western shows, but at one time, this show we used to watch that involves a pair of stage magicians named Penn and Teller." Apple Shine adds. "Those two know hundreds of professional magic tricks."
"Oh, tricks." Twilight said. "They don't use real magic, but they give off illusions to impress the audience."
"That's right." Comet confirms. "They also have a show where a bunch of many magicians try to fool Penn and Teller with any type of tricks that they have no idea how the performer did it, and then try to perform with them in a show. But usually, it's one performer that somehow fools Penn and Teller. It seems that Miss Trixie is just trying to impress the ponies in the show. She's just saying that she's really powerful just to get the crowd's attention."
"Oh, I get it." Rainbow Dash said. "She's just trying to get attention. I somehow know that feeling."
"Just because one has the ability to perform lots of magic, does not make one better than the rest of us." Rarity adds.
"Especially when ya got me around being better than the rest of us." Rainbow Dash chuckled, before Applejack gave her a death glare. "Uh, I mean, yeah, uh, magic shmagic. BOO!"
However, Rainbow Dash's 'Boo' chant didn't go unheard as Trixie faced her direction with a smirk.
"Well, well, well, it seems we have some neighsayers in the audience." Trixie retorted. "Who is so ignorant as to challenge the magical ability of the Great and Powerful Trixie? Do they not know that they're in the presence of the most unicorn in all of Equestria?"
Mario just shook his head in disgust.
"Good to know you actually grew up, Trixie." Mario said to himself.
Trixie shifted her head, blinked her eyes. Mario just glared the moment she saw him.
"Well, well, long time on see Mario Star." Trixie said smugly. "I was wondering what happened to you."
Few of the ponies actually gasped when they heard Mario knew who she was. A spotlight appeared just over his head, probably one of Trixie's tricks. Now that all eyes were on him, Mario had no choice but to acknowledge.
"You haven't changed a bit since we last met, Trixie." Mario said. "Always so full of yourself. Ready to tear apart any pony who doesn't agree to your stuck-up point of view."
"Ha! I've become the most powerful unicorn of all time!" Trixie bragged, causing Mario to roll his eyes. "And what about you? Decided you weren't good enough for the Princess, that you'd come crying to this tiny town for some pity?"
"Keep telling yourself, Trixie. I would've figured that you're always a slow learner." Mario retorted. "Also, what I do with my life is none of your business."
That got Trixie growled, didn't like his rection or his answer. Though, the rest of girls, including Comet and Apple Shine, snickered a bit. Rarity gave an indignant raspberry.
"Just who does she think she is?" Rarity asked aloud.
"Yeah!" Spike agreed. "Since we all know that Twilight and Mario here are-"
"Spike! Shhh!" Twilight blurted out.
She practically dragged Spike away from the crowd by the tail.
"What? What's wrong?" Spike asked curiously, as Twilight let go.
"You see the way they reacted to Trixie?" Twilight points out. "I don't want anyone thinking I'm a show-off."
"She's right, Spike." Mario agrees. "Sometimes we have to keep our magic and special talents to ourselves, even if it means we have to put up with braggards, like Trixie."
Twilight nodded with an agreement, though she couldn't help but feel slightly guilty.
"I never meant to rub that in your face." Twilight said quietly. "About you show-"
"Don't!" Mario interrupts. "What's done is done, Twilight."
Twilight Sparkle wanted to protest until more fanfare went off around Trixie. Snips and Snails seemed to be the only ponies impressed, while their friends and their children looked indignant.
"So, 'Great and Powerful Trixie'." Rainbow Dash replied sternly. "What makes you think you're so awesome, anyway?"
"Heh, why, only the Great and Powerful Trixie has magic strong enough to vanquish the dreaded ursa major!"
Trixie launched more of her special fireworks, as the fanfare played, and the explosions displayed an image of herself and the ursa major. The other ponies 'Oohed' and 'Awed' in amazement. Mario, Spike, Comet, Apple Shine, and the Mane 6 remained indignant, refusing to believe anything Trixie said.
"What?" Snips exclaimed.
"No way!" Snails adds in amazement.
"When all hope was lost, the ponies of Hoofington had no one to turn to." Trixie explains, theatrically. "But the Great and Powerful Trixie stepped in, and with her awesome magic, vanquished the ursa major and sent it back to its cave deep within the Everfree Forest!"
"Saw, sweet!" Snips and Snails shouted in unison.
"That settles it." Snaips declared.
"Trixie truly is the most talented, most magical, the most awesome unicorn in Ponyville." Snails added.
"No, in all of Equestria!" Snips finished.
"Not the sharpest tools in the shed, are they?" Apple Shine asks when Comet confirms with an agreement.
Mario just face-hoofed himself. It was too painful to watch ponies believing Trixie's tall tales. Even if he expected this to happen during the magic show.
"How do you know?" Spike objects. "You didn't see it! And besides, Twi-(ZIP) Mmph! M-mmph!"
Twilight Sparkle shushed Spike, by making a zipper appear along the side of his mouth and zipped it shut. Trixie merely laughed.
"It's true, my enthusiastic little admirers." Trixie replied. "Trixie is most certainly the best in Ponyville."
The only response other than dead silence was the chirping crickets nearby.
"Don't believe the Great and Powerful Trixie?" Trixie retorted. "Well then, I hereby challenge you, Ponyvillians. Anything you can do; I can do better. Any takers? Anyone? Hmmm? Or is Trixie destined to be the greatest equine who has ever lived?!"
Once more, Trixie sets off some fireworks and fanfare. By then, Spike finally managed to unzip his mouth.
"Please! She's unbearable!" Spike cried, clinging to Twilight's leg. "You two gotta show her. You just gotta!"
Mario Star felt sorry for Spike for acting so desperate, but he just couldn't bring himself to show it.
"Spike, pull yourself together." Mario said. "I know she's a pain, but there's no reason to shed tears over her."
"There's no way we're going to use our magic now, Spike." Twilight added. "Especially since-"
"Hmm, how about you?" Trixie called out.
Twilight Sparkle turned as Trixie approached the front of the stage, her gaze aimed towards 'her'. Twilight just gulped as the magician stares her down. Mario Star quickly stands in front of her, bearing an angry stare.
"Leave...her...alone!" Mario growled with a demand.
"Why?" Trixie cooed. "Is she your marefried?"
But what got their attention is when Comet smacked Spike in the back of his head.
"Way to go, Spike. You made Mom feel embarrassed." Comet said angrily.
"I heard what you said, little colt." Trixie said when Comet turns to her with his eyes dilated. "And I must say, I was somehow intrigued that you and the little filly make some interesting facts from your perspective and make some neighsayers not say any more neighs when I'm performing a few moments ago. Although, I was a little taken back when I saw you and the fillies...familiar appearance."
"Our...appearance?" Comet and Apple Shine asked.
"Yes." Trixie confirms. "I heard about you and Apple Shine, Comet. I even read the newspapers about the two of you. And I cannot believe that the both of you and your mothers somehow look alike. So, how about I make this special performance, with you and Apple Shine as my volunteers for a performance?"
The crowd gasped at this, just as Comet and Apple Shine are about to walk at the stage, Applejack stands in front of the foals.
"You leave mah daughter and mah godson out of this!" Applejack shouts with a glare. "They want no part of yer magic show!"
"Oh? And you think you can do better, little hayseed?" Trixie mocks which it got Applejack angry.
"That's it! That's the last straw and I can't stand for no more of this!" Applejack retorted.
Applejack quickly came to Twilight, Mario, Comet, and Apple Shine's rescue as she walked up toward the stage.
"You show her, AJ!" Spike cheered.
"Can your magical powers do this?"
Applejack began to show off some of her lasso skills, hopping back and forth through a rope ring. Then she used the rope to grab an apple from a nearby tree. She brought the apple straight towards her mouth and gobbled it down in one bite.
"Whooo!" The ponies cheered.
"Top that, missy!" Applejack challenged.
"Oh ye of little talent." Trixie replied.
Trixie's wizard hat began to glow, as she removed it revealing the glowing aura emanating from her horn.
"Watch and be amazed at the magic of Trixie!"
Using her magic, Trixie brought the discarded rope to life. It began to wiggle about like a snake, as she added the 'charmer' music to boot. Mario was worried about his sister and so is Apple Shine.
"Don't look at the rope, AJ." Mario muttered. "Don't look at the..."
Unfortunately, Applejack did look, and she appeared charmed by the spectacle.
"Oh boy..." Mario groaned.
But it was too late, Trixie grabbed another rope and proceeded to trip Applejack.
"Whoa! Uh!" Applejack muttered.
"Ma!" Apple Shine called her mother.
Applejack was so distracted that Trixie had tied her four legs and pinned her upside down. And to add insult to injury, Trixie use her magic to levitate an apple from the tree and stuffed it into Applejack's mouth. The ponies just laughed as Applejack hopped off the stage in disgrace.
"Once again, the Great and Powerful Trixie prevails." Trixie boasted.
"No, yer just askin' fer trouble!" The voice of Apple Shine said when Trixie turns to the Texan filly.
And then Apple Shine bucked Trixie into the curtains which it got the ponies cringed when they heard that crash. Apple Shine proceeds to get off the stage and ran towards to her mother.
"You alright, ma?" Apple Shine asks as Applejack spits out of the apple.
"Ah'm fine, sugarcube. Just havin' an off day." Applejack assures her daughter with a smile. "And that's a good kick, by the way."
"Yeah, nice shot, Apple Shine." Comet praises the filly.
Apple Shine tipped her hat with a slight blush on her face from receiving the praise from her mother and her friend. Trixie came out of the curtains, seeing stars as she shakes it off and turn to the Texan filly with a glare.
"Why you little-"
Just before she could finish her sentence, Rainbow Dash flew right up to her face.
"There's no need to go struggin' around and showin' off like that." Rainbow Dash points out.
"Oh?" Trixie asks.
"That's my job!"
Rainbow Dash soon took off into the skies, using the nearby windmill to increase her speed as she flew upward. Blasting through several clouds until Rainbow Dash posed in front of the sun before diving back to the surface. As she did, she used her slipstream to collect the dew from the clouds, spinning about through the windmill once again, and then came to a dead stop before Trixie. As the dew crashed into her, it created a miniature rainbow above her head.
"They don't call me 'Rainbow' and 'Dash' for nothin'!" Rainbow Dash said confidentially.
The ponies all gave a loud cheer, but Trixie wasn't impressed.
"When Trixie is through." Trixie remarked. "The only thing they'll call you is loser."
Trixie used her magic to make the rainbow above Rainbow Dash's head shift into a multi-colored cyclone.
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa-a-a-a!" Rainbow Dash screamed.
Rainbow Dash spun around and dropped head-first toward the ground, leaving her very dizzy as all the other ponies laughed.
"...I think I'm...gonna be sick..." Rainbow Dash gulped woozily.
"Seems like anypony with a dash of good sense would think twice before tussling with the Great Trixie!" Trixie gloated.
As Applejack, who managed to get out of the ropes with a little help from her daughter, helped Rainbow Dash to her feet, Trixie used her magic to create a small dark cloud above Rainbow Dash...Which shot a bolt of lightning at Rainbow Dash's rear end.
"Ow!" Rainbow Dash flinched, with a very girly shriek.
The ponies laughing in the audience laughed harder than before, as if this was all part of the show.
"What we need is another unicorn to challenge her." Spike replied, his claws balled into fists. "Someone with some magic of her own."
Twilight began to feel rather uneasy about the idea, especially where it's going.
"Yeah! A unicorn to show this unicorn who's boss." Rainbow Dash adds, fully recovered.
"A real unicorn to unicorn tussle." Applejack finished.
Mario and Twilight grew more and more uncomfortable when Rarity stood before the two.
"Enough! Enough, all of you!" Rarity said firmly. "I take your hint, but Rarity is above such nonsense. Rainbow Dash and Applejack may behave like ruffians, but Rarity conducts herself with beauty and grace."
While Mario nodded with an agreement, but it puzzled him why Rarity was suddenly speaking in third person.
"Oooh, what's the matter?" Trixie teased. "Afraid you'll get a hair out of place in that rat's nest you call a mane?"
"Oh, it. Is. On!" Rarity exclaims fiercely, taking the stage. "You may think you're tough with all of your so-called powers, but there's more to magic than brutish ways. A unicorn needs to be more than just muscle. A unicorn needs to have style."
Rarity grabs one of the curtains with her horn, spinning the cloth around her before transforming it into a beautiful gown with Rarity's hair styled in a beautiful done up-do.
"Ooh!" The ponies gasped in amazement.
"A unicorn is not a unicorn without grace and beauty." Rarity concluded with a pose.
Though, Trixie isn't impressed of her style, smirked when her horn glows.
"Rarity won't let Trixie get the best of her!" Spike said proudly. "She's strong, she's beautiful, she's-"
POOF!
GASP!
Spike stopped speaking as Trixie used her magic, leaving every pony stunned.
"Quick!" Rarity shouted, panicking. "I need a mirror! Get me a mirror! What did she do to my hair?! I know she did something terrible to my hair!"
"Nothing!" Twilight smiled.
"It's fine." Rainbow Dash said plainly.
"It's gorgeous." Applejack adds.
"Never looked better." Mario smiled awkwardly.
"It's amazin'." Apple Shine said nervously.
"It's nice." Comet adds nervously.
"It's green." Spike said.
Spike not only earned himself a three, but 'sixth' glares from Mario, Comet, and Apple Shine themselves.
"What?"
Rarity looked up and before her eyes what she saw was true. Her moderate indigo had suddenly turned into a shade of swampy green.
"Ugh, no!" Rarity cried out. "Green hair! Not green hair!"
Rarity rushed off the stage, crying through the crowd.
"Such an awful, awful color!" Rarity sobbed.
In her haste, a mare named Golden Harvest had the same color of her mane.
"Well, I never!" Golden Harvest retorted, walking away.
As the others watched Rarity leave, Mario and Comet's eyes twitched in anger, grits his teeth as he breathed like a raging bull. In the heat of the moment, Spike approaches Twilight Sparkle.
"Well, Twilight, Mario, Comet, guess it's up to you three." Spike said, despite their hesitant faces. "Come on, show her what you're made of."
Several ponies turned towards the two, expecting the pair to give it a shot.
"What do you mean?" Twilight asked innocently. "I'm nothing special."
"Yes, you are!" Spike protested. "You are better than her! The three of you!"
"We're no better than anyone! And he's just a kid!" Twilight protested.
But despite her protests, the stares from the ponies increased. Even Trixie stood at the ready.
"Hah! You think you're better than the Great and Powerful Trixie?" Trixie questioned. "You think you've got more magical talent? Well, come on, show Trixie what you've got. Show us all."
Mario and Comet glared silently, while Twilight felt more and more uncomfortable.
"Who, me?" Twilight responded. "I'm just your run-of-the-mill citizen of Ponyville. Same with Mario. No powerful magic here. I, uh...I think I hear my laundry calling. Sorry, gotta go."
Twilight took off suddenly. Mario glared at Trixie while Spike and Comet looked on with worry.
"Twilight?" Spike asked worriedly.
"Mom?" Comet adds.
"Ha!" Trixie gloated triumphantly. "Once again, the Great and Powerful Trixie has proven herself to be the most amazing unicorn in all of Equestria? Huh, was there ever any doubt?"
Then, she turned to Mario, who kept glaring at her.
"Well, what about you, Mario? Are you still doing your fancy 'Toso Kune Do' moves as well?" Trixie asks with a mockery. "Why don't you show us all what you got? Well?"
Every pony looked at him worriedly as well as his friends, his niece, and his godson. Mario looked down to the ground for a few minutes before he turned back at Trixie again angrily and walked up to her.
Trixie smirked as he was about to show off, but instead...
"You know what? You're not worth it." Mario said which made Trixie drop her smirk as she stood back in surprise.
"What?" Trixie asked.
"It's ridiculous! Can you at least try to be an original character and show some humility? You've been doing the same old bullying shtick since magic kindergarten." Mario said before he continues. "It's tiring. Showing off like a braggard? Seriously?! And to think that you haven't learn your lesson when I kept given you warnings, yet you keep ignoring it and making a fool of yourself."
Trixie flinched back in surprise before Mario gesture to the crowd, who muttered to each other an agreement with him as they glared at Trixie as the rest of the Mane 6, Comet, and Apple Shine watched in interest.
"Look around, Trixie. We've all grown up, but you're still a slow learner and a sympathetic loser who torments others just to feel good about yourself." Mario said. "You're just sad."
Mario then turned around and walked away as the crowd of Ponyville cheered for him as his friends, his niece, and his godson joined him with proud looks on their faces. Trixie just stood there, speechless before she glared at Mario, and to add an insult to injury, both Comet and Apple Shine give her a raspberry, fumed as she walked off the stage somewhere else.
A short while later, Trixie stood before her large mirror. She was of course still mad about what Mario did to her from earlier and would try to get him back. She was using her magic to brush her mane just outside her personal wagon, when someone offered her a drink.
"Here's the oat smoothie you asked for." Snips asked, offering her a drink. "With extra hay, just how you like it."
Trixie flinched away and rightfully so. Since the plate carrying the smoothie was served over Snip's rear end. Snails wasn't far, as stood aimlessly nearby.
"Mmm, hay." Snails said, in a slow zoned-out tone.
Trixie just rolled her eyes toward both of them but accepted the smoothie with a very long sip. She noticed the two unicorn colts were just staring at her, smiling at her. Now she could tolerate having ponies gush over her, but there was only so much she could take.
"Yes?" Trixie asked impatiently.
"Ooo, tell us another story, Great and Powerful Trixie?" Snips asked, bouncing excitedly.
"Yeah, tell us about how you vanquished the ursa major?" Snails asked.
"Guh! Trixie is far too exhausted from performing feats beyond imagination." Trixie snorted bitterly. "Especially after Mario Star showed me off with his big mouth. Begone with you until morning."
"Oh, of course, Great and Powerful Trixie." Snails groveled, backing away.
"Anything you say." Snips added, moving back just the same. "We are at your beckon call."
'Ah' was all Trixie could say once they left. Snips and Snails continued moving backwards before nearly bumping into Spike and Comet.
"What are you two doing?" Spike asked with his arms crossed.
"Just bringing the G and PT a-"
"The 'what'?" Spike cuts Snips off with a question.
"The Great and Powerful Trixie." Snips explains proudly.
It got Spike and Comet rolled their eyes with annoyance.
"Just bringing her a smoothie." Snips said.
"How can you fall for her lameness?" Spike retorted, waving his arms. "She's just a show-off."
"Yeah, and she's just a bully who is making everypony miserable. Miss Trixie was supposed to be a magician, and the way she performs, it's like what Mario have told us." Comet adds.
"Exactly." Spike nods with an agreement. "Unlike Twilight and Mario, who-"
"The Great and Powerful Trixie vanquished an ursa major." Snips interrupted, leaning in Spike's face. "Can your Twilight and Mario claim that? Especially when Mario talked back to her?"
"Oh, really?" Spike said. "Were you guys actually there?"
"Well, eh, uh...no." Snips stuttered, exchanging looks with Snails. "But..."
"But nothing!" Spike snapped. "The proof is in the pudding."
"I like pudding." Snails laughed.
Suffice to say, Spike was more annoyed than amused.
"Forget it, Spike. They're just not too bright to know that. Let's just go home." Comet suggests as he and Spike heads home. "But still, if an actual Ursa Major would really be rampaging Ponyville, it'll be the end of the world."
"Yeah. Like that could ever happen, and it'd be the least of our problems." Spike said.
"Hm, an ursa walkin' up the street, hey?" Snips pondered aloud. "Snails! You thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?"
"Why is it call it a flea market when they don't sell fleas?" Snails asked in his usual tone.
"Yeah, uh..."
Snips realized that wasn't even close to what he was talking about.
"...Oh, come on."
And with that, Snips and Snails went somewhere else.
In the Golden Oak Library, Mario was actually busy meditating and Twilight was reading from the same book when Spike and Comet arrived.
"Mario, Twilight, would you two stop meditating, put than book down and just listen to me?" Spike retorted.
"Didn't you see how they hated Trixie's bragging, Spike?" Twilight points out. "If we go out there and show off our magic..."
"...we run the risk of losing our friends." Mario finished. "Nothing is worth that."
Twilight gave him a sympathy look before resuming her reading.
"It's not the same thing, you guys." Spike insists. "You'll be using your magic to stand up for your friends."
"No, Spike, it's exactly the same!" Twilight shot back.
"What's bragging?" Comet asked.
"It's something most ponies talk about one's achievements or possessions they value most by boasting about how proud they are of themselves." Twilight explains.
"And there's no point in stopping down to her level." Mario told Spike. "I'll admit most of her magic quips were humiliating, but nothing that needed us to intervene. Okay, maybe in Rarity's case...the poor girl was so upset before I finally restored her mane to her original color...but the point is...we don't need to fight fire with fire. Or in this case, 'magic' with 'magic'."
"Come on, guys." Spike said. "Any one of those tricks, even the teeniest, would be enough to show up Trixie."
"I don't want to be seen as a bragger like Trixie!" Mario and Twilight shouted in unison.
They both conjured a door frame with a door and slammed it shut on Spike's waste. Spike wasted no time reopening it.
"But you're the best!" Spike protests.
"Ugh! Please, Spike, I said no!" Twilight snapped.
"And that's final!" Mario added sternly.
"If that's the way you want to be, then fine!" Spike sighed. "Maybe Trixie was right about one thing: You two belong together!"
Spike slammed the door shut, while Mario, Twilight, and Comet looked unamused since the door he slammed didn't 'really' shut them out or lead anywhere. Spike realizing this, reopened and slowly made his way back outside without another word. Until, Comet walked over to Twilight and placed a hoof on her leg which it got their attention.
"Are you and Mario okay, Mom?" Comet asked, worried.
"We're fine, sweetheart. We're just stressed out." Twilight replied with a soft smile, stroking her son's mane while rubbing his hoof.
Comet then nuzzled his cheek against her chest.
"I understand." Comet said. "You still have me and Mario to talk to."
"I know." Twilight replied with a warm smile, giggled as she hugged the colt.
Mario then sighed, thinking of what Spike is trying to get him and Twilight to do against Trixie.
"Still, Spike just doesn't get it." Mario muttered, heading towards the kitchen to start cooking.
Twilight and Comet, on the other hoof, looked worried. She just couldn't keep quiet about this issue any longer.
"Mario?" Twilight asked quietly.
"Yeah?" Mario asked, placing the utensil in the kitchen counter.
"What really happened all those years ago?" Twilight questions. "I want to know."
"Does it matter?" Mario asked, sighed. "In the end, you were right about me."
"Mario, I know I wasn't there for you when you needed me." Twilight told him sadly. "I'm sorry I never tried asking if you were okay or tried to help you after all those ponies in Canterlot tried to tore you down, after you stood up for yourself. I just don't understand how you know what it's like to be ostracized or looked down upon those elites."
"I don't wanna..."
Mario was about to cook up some lunch, but Twilight stopped him and staring at his brown eyes.
"I want to know what happened." Twilight urged sadly. "I don't know the whole story, but I do know you're still hurting. I didn't help you back then, but let me help you now. Please?"
Mario stared at her for a few minutes, before releasing a large sigh.
"Alright...I'll tell you..."
For the rest of the afternoon, Mario shared the entire story to Twilight. To her credit, Twilight did a great job of hearing him out while doing her research, and she even shared a hug with him when shed a few tears. Mario had to admit it felt better to finally tell someone face-to-face rather than jotting the painful memories in a journal. Just to feel Twilight and Comet's arms around him was helpful in his opinion. However, Mario was very reluctant to show off his magical talents along with his martial arts skills...and so was Twilight.
Later that night, Snips and Snails were wandering in the Everfree Forest. They were apparently in search for something when they stumbled upon a cave and found themselves in complete darkness.
"Oh, how are we gonna find as ursa major when I can't even see my own front of my face?" Snips asked, annoyed.
"Hold on!" Snails said.
Snails grunted while trying to light his horn. After a few bad starts, he finally managed to keep his horn lit.
"Oh, heh. That's better."
The two colts turned behind them when they saw what appeared to be a large blue bear-like creature coated in a constellation pattern. Apparently, they're looking for an ursa major, but instead, they just woke it up. The giant bear uttered a loud growl towards the colts.
"YAAAHHHH!" Snips and Snails screamed.
They took off as fast as their legs could take them, while the ursa pursued them with a roar.
Meanwhile, Spike was outside the forest, kicking a small pebble across the path, still depressed and angry. All of a sudden, Snips and Snails came rushing by, screaming.
"Hey guys, where are you going?" Spike asked curiously.
"Can't talked now!" Snips replied, breathing hard and still running.
"Got a major problem!" Snails called out.
"Yeah, ursa major, to be exact." Snips said.
Soon as the two colts were out of sight, Spike looked puzzled when he heard a loud roar.
"Huh?!" Spike exclaims.
He looked up and his face turned to fright at the sight of the constellation bear coming his way. Spike took off running, try to catch up with his friends while the ursa roared.
"TRIXIE!" Snips and Snails screamed.
"TWILIGHT! MARIO!" Spike screamed.
Within record time, the two colts arrived at Trixie's wagon, banging on her door frantically. After a few knocks, Trixie opened the top half of the door.
"Trixie thought she said the Great and Powerful Trixie did not want to be disturbed!" Trixie grumbled.
"We-We have a-a tiny problem." Snips replied, chuckled nervously.
"Actually, it's a big one." Snails corrected him.
"What is so important that you cannot wait until morning to disturb Trixie?" Trixie asks impatiently.
A loud roar caught her attention and saw the ursa make its way through the trees before her in the distance. Trixie screamed at the top of her lungs, taking off for her dear life. Snips and Snails were stunned for a second before taking off as well, while the ursa used its paw to smash Trixie's wagon to bits. Spike managed to reach the Golden Oak Library a little after the two colts spoke with Trixie.
"Twilight! Mario!" Spike panicked. "You gotta come! Quick!"
"I already told you, Spike!" Twilight retorts. "I don't want to show up Trixie!"
"So drop it!" Mario added sternly.
"No, you don't understand!" Spike said frantically. "It's-"
ROAR!
That got Twilight, Mario, and Comet's attention.
"What's happening?!" Comet asked, hid underneath Twilight.
"Uh, is that what I think it is?" Twilight asked worriedly.
"Majorly." Spike added wearily.
Meanwhile, the ursa managed to pursue Trixie, Snips, and Snails and backed them towards a nearby house. They were all fearing for their lives when Snips remembered something.
"Great and Powerful Trixie, you've got to vanquish the ursa!" Snips said.
"Yeah, vanquish it so we can watch!" Snails said.
Trixie was rather aghast at their request.
"It took a lot of trouble to that thing here!" Snips admits, made Trixie realized why the ursa is here.
"Wait, you brought this here?!" Trixie gasped angrily. "Are you out of your little pony minds?!"
"But you're the Great and Powerful Trixie!" Snips protests.
"Yeah, remember?" Snails said. "You defeated an ursa major."
The ursa roared at Trixie, the very sight of that giant bear made her gulped.
"Uh, okay." Trixie said nervously. "Stand back."
Using her horn, she summoned the rope and attempted to use her snake charmer trick on the ursa. She then bound what appeared to be two of its fingers before smiling.
"Piece of cake." Trixie said nervously.
Until the ursa lifted his maul and breaks the rope with ease, smirking at Trixie
"Aw, come on, Trixie!" Snips whined.
"Stop goofing around and vanquish it, eh?" Snails adds.
"Growing more nervous, Trixie tried to summon her thundercloud again. It may look like she was creating a thunderstorm, but the cloud was no bigger than the cloud she summoned against Rainbow Dash. Trixie just gasped and gulped, and she'd be lucky if that even tickled that bear.
"Well, that was a dud." Snails said bluntly.
"Yeah, pfft, come on!" Snips said impatiently. "Where's all the cool explosions and smoke and stuff like earlier?! You know!"
Trixie said nothing as the little cloud finally cracked a lightning, leaving a burnt mark upon the side of the ursa's back end and it got the ursa really mad.
"Uh oh!" Trixie squeaked.
The ursa gave a loud roar, sending the three screaming and running for their lives. The ursa's roaring woke all the other ponies living nearby. Many of them gasped at the sight as the ursa tore off a nearby roof, sending ponies scattering in fear. Mario, Twilight, and Comet arrived on the scene just in time, running right into Trixie and the two colts.
"What is that?!" Comet asks.
"Gah! It's the Ursa Major!" Spike replied.
"What's going on?" Twilight asked.
"We brought an ursa to town." Snips said plainly.
"You what?!" Twilight exclaimed shockingly.
"Are you two asking a death wish?!" Comet shouts with anger.
"Don't worry, the Great and Powerful Trixie will vanquish it!" Snails replied excitedly.
"Seriously?!" Mario grunted angrily. "When the brains were passed out, you two forgot to take a number!"
"Heh...yeah we did." Snails said with a chuckle.
The fact Snails even answered that question so casually only proved Mario's point while Twilight and Comet looked unamused. Trixie hadn't heard, having kept quiet during the whole moment.
"I can't." Trixie admitted sadly.
"WHAT?!" Snips and Snails exclaimed.
"Oh, I can't, I never have!" Trixie confessed. "No one can vanquish an ursa major. I just made the story up to make me look better."
"Made it up?!" Snips and Snails exclaimed.
"Surprise, surprise." Mario muttered.
Then the ursa gave a loud growl, roaring as it appeared above a house in the distance. Mario, Twilight, and Comet looked uneasily, as the other ponies gasped fearfully. Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Apple Shine were now in the crowd. Chase and Twilight turned toward each other, but Comet can tell something is wrong with the ursa, listen to the spirits within as he walk towards the ursa. It got Spike's attention when he saw Comet walking towards the ursa. Mario and Twilight noticed Comet is walking, which it got her panicked.
"Comet! What are you doing?!" Twilight shouts at her son. "Get back here!"
But Comet didn't listen when he got close to the ursa, but he's not showing any fear to the ursa as he look at it. The ursa growled at the colt, but Comet is keeping his calm composure as he walk towards the maul, rubbing it softly which it got the ursa confused while the other ponies watched him. Mario, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Apple Shine, and Twilight were surprised at Comet, seeing him not showing any fear of the ursa. Even Spike was surprised when Comet was scared at first, but now, he's not.
"I see now, you're not rampaging Ponyville, you were disturbed in your sleep." Comet said to the ursa. "Rest assured, brother bear, we'll make sure this won't happen again."
The ursa then showed a smile of gratitude as Twilight and Mario nods, slowly got close to the ursa. Then they made their horns glow, their magic creating a small gust of wind that spread about the outskirts of town, generating a soft soothing melody that seemed to get the ursa even more calm.
"Nice use of number 16." Spike said, clearly impressed.
Mario and Twilight began to sweat as they kept the melody playing and proceeded to remove a nearby water tank from its stand. They removed the water and slowly guided the tank through a nearby barn. Twilight kept the tank steady, as Mario used his magic to collect fresh milk from the cows, who mooed in surprise as they were magically milked and their contents placed inside the tank.
"Golly, don'tcha know?" A random cow said.
When the tank was filled with fresh milk, Twilight created a rubber suction top to turn the tank into a giant bottle of milk.
"That's new." Spike remarked.
A metal clank indicated the tank had arrived, while Mario and Twilight groaned from all the multi-tasking. Despite sweating more profusely, they used their magic to lift the ursa into the air. Shifting it into a cradle position, they offer the giant bottle of milk to the ursa, who drank it peacefully. Then, they slowly transported the ursa back to its cave where it belongs.
Once it had been set down, Mario and Twilight released a long exhausted sigh as they tried to catch their breath. They were both tired yet triumphant. Both Comet and Apple Shine ran towards Twilight and Mario.
"Mom?! Are you okay?" Comet asked, worried about his mother.
"I...I'll be fine." Twilight said, before she brought her son over for a hug.
"Uncle Mario?! Y'all alright?" Apple Shine asked, worried about her uncle.
"I'll be fine, Apple Shine. I'm just tired." Mario said, before he brought his niece over for a hug.
Just then, all of the ponies cheered for them.
"Unbelievable!" Rainbow Dash said.
"That was amazing!" Spike adds.
"Heavens to Betsy!" Applejack said. "We knew you two had ability, but not that much."
Twilight and Mario just looked rather sad.
"I'm sorry. Please, don't hate us." Twilight pleaded.
"Hate you?" Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash asked in unison.
"Why, whatever do you mean, darling?" Rarity asked, puzzled.
"Well, I know how much you all hate Trixie's showing off with her magic tricks." Twilight explains. "And we just thought..."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Rainbow Dash cut her off. "Magic's got nothing to do with it...or having a ton of talent. Trixie's just a loudmouth."
"Most unpleasant." Rarity adds.
"All hat and no cattle." Applejack said.
"So, you don't mind our magic tricks?" Twilight asked.
"Your magic is part of who you are, sugarcube." Applejack said. "And we like who you are. We're proud to have such powerful, talented unicorns as friends."
"And after whoopin' that ursa's hindquarters, we're even prouder." Rainbow Dash adds. "And even when Mario stood up against Trixie before was awesome! Plus, it took a lot of guts the way Comet just go up against the ursa was even more awesome!"
"You are?" Mario and Twilight asks surprisingly.
"Uh-huh." Rainbow Dash nods.
"Mm-hmm." Applejack and Rarity nods.
Seeing that their friends appreciate the two as they are, especially their godson, Mario, Twilight, and Comet rewarded their praises with warm smiles. Twilight then turns to her son.
"I'm proud of you, Comet." Twilight said with a smile. "You gathered your courage and even share kindness to that ursa."
"Yeah, Comet, even Fluttershy would be even proud for what you did." Rainbow Dash adds.
"Actually, I listen to the spirit within." Comet explains. "I've been learning to listen to the spirits of the wild from Wild Heart. Even if I have to refresh my old father's teachings."
"Wow, Twilight, how'd you know what to do with that ursa major?" Spike asked.
"That was what we were doing when you came looking for us." Twilight explains. "We were so intrigued by Trixie's bragging that we were compelled to do a little reading up on them."
"Guess you can say it pays to do your homework." Mario adds, rubbing the back of his mane.
"So, it is possible to vanquish an ursa major all by yourselves?" Spike asked.
"That wasn't an ursa major." Twilight replied.
"It was a baby, an ursa minor." Mario corrected him.
"That was just a baby?!" Trixie exclaims with shock.
"I knew there's something wrong with that young cub and a reason why it's angry. The ursa minor isn't rampaging Ponyville, it was just angry because someone woke it up." Comet explains when he, Twilight, and Mario gave the two culprits a glare. One look and they realized they're in deep trouble.
"Awww..." Snips and Snails muttered sheepishly.
"Well, if that was an ursa minor." Spike thought. "Then what's an ursa major like?"
Mario and Twilight thought deeply to themselves. Whey they were moving the ursa minor, they actually deposited the cub into its parent's lap, which was a fully-grown giant bear.
"You don't want to know." Mario and Twilight said with a smirk.
"But Trixie?" Comet called her, earned Trixie's attention. "Why did you lie? Why did you lie about defeating an Ursa Major to everypony?"
Trixie can tell that Comet wanted to know why she lied to them in Ponyville, after what she did to his godmothers, his mother, and his godfather. She then sighed, decided to tell the little colt the truth.
"I just wanted to everypony just how talented I am with magic. Well...stage magic." Trixie explains. "So, I thought that if I attracted an audience with a story that sounds so believable then...everypony would believe that the Great and Powerful Trixie really is Great and Powerful."
Comet then confirms his suspicions: Trixie only wanted to attention by telling them a lie just to show how talented she is. Comet then walk towards Trixie which Twilight, Mario, Spike, Rarity, Applejack, Apple Shine, and Rainbow Dash are watching the colt.
"Trixie. We all have special talents that we want to show others, but there's no need to lie about the Ursa Major." Comet told her. "We already know how that feels when telling a lie can only get us into a lot of trouble."
Trixie held her head down in shame, knew the little colt made some valid points.
"I feel like you would be a great magician if you just showed them that you're just good at it." Comet continues, leaving Trixie surprised.
"Really? You believe so?" Trixie asks.
"Yes." Comet confirms. "It may take time for everypony to forgive you, but I'm sure you'll entertain everypony with your stage magic."
Trixie now show tears in her eyes, couldn't believe what Comet have told her which she felt touched.
"Why?" Trixie asked. "Why would be so nice to me after what I did to all of you?"
"Because I believe you deserve a chance, a chance to show that you're talented in stage performance and not lying to everypony." Comet explains.
Trixie has shocked look on her face when Comet told her that she deserves a chance.
"So, Trixie? Do you want to start all over of this and be friends?" Comet asks with a smile.
Trixie looks at Comet for a few seconds, before she smiles and hugged the little colt.
"Yes. I would like that." Trixie accepts.
"That was really wise, Comet." Twilight said to her son. "You really are insightful for your age."
"Indeed he is, your son is a very bright young colt." Trixie agrees. "But Comet, don't take this the wrong way. I do think we can be friends, I really do, but I really want to pursue my magic career by travelling across Equestria."
They were shocked for a second, but then put an understanding looks as they all nodded.
"I understand." Comet replied.
"The next town Trixie will go to will actually show what Trixie can do." Trixie boasts which it got them roll their eyes. "But...I think I'm in need of a wagon fixed."
Twilight, Mario, and Comet then turn towards the two young colts with a glare. Snips and Snails were trying to get away, but Apple Shine was in front of them.
"Goin' somewhere?" Apple Shine asks with a glare when Snips and Snails chuckled each other nervously when Trixie, Twilight, Mario, and Comet walk besides the Texan filly. "You two hair-brained galoots were responsible fer wakin' up the Ursa Minor."
"Ah." Snips chuckled sheepishly. "Uh, we're sorry that we woke up the ursa minor."
"We just wanted to see some awesome magic." Snails adds.
"Yeah!" Snips added. "And the way you vanquished that ursa minor was awesome!"
Mario, Twilight, Comet, Apple Shine, and Trixie just looked sternly at them.
"Flattery will not get you two out of this." Comet told them.
"He's right. I may be at fault for lying to everypony, but you two were also responsible for bringing the ursa minor here." Trixie adds, agrees.
Both Snips and Snails slouch in defeat.
"We deserve whatever punishment you give us." Snails conceded sadly.
"For starters, you can clean up this mess." Twilight points out.
Mario examined Trixie's destroyed wagon as he held a piece with his magic. They then look that there was a minor debris around Ponyville that the Ursa Minor destroyed.
"All of that around Ponyville?!" Snails exclaims.
"But that'll take forever!" Snips complains.
"Then I suggest that you get started." Twilight suggests, turns to Spike. "And...What do you think, Spike? Mario? Should I give them number 25?"
Mario turned around, as Spike turned around his friends. Mario nods silently in agreement and Spike winks an eye before facing Twilight.
"Oh, 25! Yes!" Spike nods. "And I think I deserve it, too."
"Heh?"
Snips and Snails were confused, including Trixie, but Comet knows what Spike is up to. Spike stood beside them.
"I think you're right." Twilight smirked.
She turn towards Mario Star, who extends a hoof to let her do her thing. Twilight then made her horn glow, as she produced a think black mustache on all their faces.
"Swwwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!" The three boys said together.
Mario and Twilight chuckled to each other before slapping their hooves together, but Comet, Trixie, and Apple Shine just rolled their eyes with annoyance.
By next morning, Trixie departed after Mario fixed her wagon and most of the damage had been cleared away only now the two colts had to make some repairs to some broken rooftops. Meanwhile, Mario, Twilight, and Comet were back in the library along in the upper floor, as Twilight prepared their letter to Princess Celestia.
Dear Princess Celestia,
We have learned a valuable lesson about friendship: We were so afraid of being thought of as show-offs that we were hiding a part of who we are. Our friends helped us realize that it's okay to be proud of your talents, and there are times when it's appropriate to show them off...Especially when you're standing up for your friends.
Twilight had just finished signing the letter, as Spike and Comet reached the top of the stairs.
"So, you finally admit that you two are the most talented unicorns in all of Ponyville?" Spike asked.
"Well, yeah." Twilight said modestly.
"But it's nothing to brag about." Mario added. "At the end, we're just regular ponies like all the others."
"So, uh, how did it go with Rarity?" Twilight asks.
"Eh, she didn't go for the mustache." Spike said, feeling rejected.
"And I won the bet." Comet adds. "Spike and I made a bet to see if Rarity can go out with him."
"And what did you say?" Mario asks.
"I told him that Rarity would rather go out with some pony who's clean shaved, or none at all." Comet told him. "Spike tries to prove me wrong, but in the end, it didn't go well for him."
Mario and Twilight couldn't help but chuckle while Spike grunts, couldn't believe he lost to the unicorn colt.
"You know Spike." Twilight points out. "That mustache has nothing to do with who you really are. Maybe you should just try to be yourself."
"Or...Maybe the mustache wasn't enough." Spike thought aloud. "Maybe if I had a mustache and a beard?"
"Ugh, not this again!" Twilight groaned exasperated.
"Oh boy..." Mario agreed with an eyes roll.
Comet however, use his magic to undo the mustache on Spike's face, and the jester attire appears upon him.
"Wha?! Comet!" Spike whines, turns to Comet.
"You know the rules, Spike. If you lost the bet, you have to wear the jester attire." Comet told him.
And it got Mario, Twilight, and Comet laughing at Spike wearing a jester outfit before she turn toward the stallion.
"You did well from before, Mario." Twilight said which it got Mario stopped laughing.
"For what?" Mario asked.
"For standing up to Trixie like that and helping me get rid of that Ursa Minor." Twilight answered.
Mario stared at her for a moment before he looked at the ground with a smile.
"It's nothing really." Mario replied back before Twilight kissed his cheek, making him blush a bit.
Twilight then turn toward her son.
"You did well from before also, Comet." Twilight said when Comet stopped laughing.
"For what?" Comet asks.
"For gathering your courage to face the Ursa Minor, and sharing the wisdom to Trixie." Twilight answered with a smile. "I'm very proud of you."
Twilight then uses her magic to pull him closer and hugged him, until Comet hugged his mother and nuzzled his cheek with her chest fur.
Mario had to admit, it was amazing from his deed in Ponyville to help Twilight and watch Comet calms the Ursa Minor down, but there will be more to come in the future.
That's it for the 12th chapter. Sorry about the delay, it's just that it's a lot of details to go through.